Police attempting to find Clapham chemical attacker arrest man, 22

Police in the present day arrested a person on suspicion of aiding Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi – as they revealed the mom critically damage within the ‘focused’ assault could lose sight in her eye. 

Officers have been attempting to find the fugitive since he allegedly doused a 31-year-old lady and her daughters, aged eight and three, with a corrosive alkaline substance at round 7.30pm on Wednesday. 

Investigators are trawling by means of tons of of hours of CCTV and have tracked Ezedi’s actions on the Tube community through his financial institution card, with the most recent sighting now on Southwark Bridge at 9.50pm on Wednesday.

The Met arrested a 22-year-old man this morning and he has been launched on bail.

Officers have recovered Ezedi’s cell phone from the automotive concerned within the incident and are analysing it to ascertain the connection between him and the sufferer, who could lose using her proper eye.  

Former detectives have speculated Ezedi could possibly be receiving assist and assist from folks smugglers or could even be lifeless. 

Peter Bleksley mentioned he might also have killed himself and officers are but to find his physique.

Mr Bleksley, who helped arrange Scotland Yard’s undercover unit, mentioned: ‘What I discover uncommon with this investigation – the place you’ve got a critically injured lady and accidents to 2 younger kids – is that we haven’t any details about Ezedi’s whereabouts past Wednesday night final week.

‘The path goes chilly from simply after 9.30pm when he is seen leaving Tower Hill tube station. Now, is that as a result of the Met have extra info than they’re letting on? Or, is he lifeless in a ditch or canal or river someplace? All prospects.

‘But what you need to keep in mind – and never many cops wish to admit this – fugitives do generally go on the run and by no means get caught.

‘Don’t overlook that Ezedi is a person who has a historical past of evading detection by the authorities, having smuggled himself into the UK from Afghanistan.

‘Does he have a prison community aiding him and offering him with meals, water and shelter? That is a definite risk given the police have admitted they’ve carried out searches on 5 completely different addresses.

‘He has already smuggled himself into the nation, may he do the identical in leaving the UK? He’ll need to wait till the harm to his face is much less extreme and noticeable, nevertheless lengthy that can take.’

CCTV emerged earlier in the present day of the previous asylum seeker shopping for groceries from a store in Newcastle. 

Ezedi was caught on CCTV shopping for 30 eggs from a Middle Eastern meals retailer close to to his dwelling on Tuesday lunchtime. He is seen smiling at employees behind the counter earlier than paying in money. 

The fugitive, who lives close to to the shop on Byker Road, is assumed to have arrived within the UK from Afghanistan on the again of a lorry in 2016. He was discovered responsible of sexual assault in 2018 however granted asylum after claiming to have transformed to Christianity.

Staff on the meals retailer, who requested to stay nameless, informed the Telegraph they had been ‘horrified’ that Ezedi had been linked to the assault as a result of he was often known as a ‘good Muslim’. 

The day after the CCTV was filmed the pizza takeaway chef drove to Clapham, south-west London, the place he’s believed to have thrown an alkaline substance at a 31-year-old lady and her daughters, eight and three.

Police across the UK have been chasing the 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker since Wednesday as a part of a serious manhunt. 

The lady, who suffered probably life-changing accidents, was identified to Ezedi and stays in hospital in a essential however secure situation.

The hunt entered its fifth day in the present day with a £20,000 reward in place for anybody with info resulting in his arrest.

But Nick Aldworth, a former nationwide counter-terrorism co-ordinator, warned that Ezedi may already be lifeless. 

He informed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I feel if we have not seen or heard from him within the the final couple of days, which seems to be the case, he is gone to floor, presumably supported by anyone… or it is not unlikely or unbelievable that he could have taken his personal life. There is due to this fact a physique to be discovered someplace.’

Mr Aldworth mentioned the Met can be monitoring Ezedi’s actions by means of public cameras, which had been a ‘very efficient’ methodology in earlier circumstances. 

The drive mentioned the final sighting of Ezedi, who’s from Newcastle, was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London on January 31, shortly after the assault in Clapham.

Asked if the Met Police would now have a exact location for his whereabouts, he mentioned: ‘I feel they will have an excellent sense of what space he is in.

‘What you possibly can’t low cost after all is that he has been picked up by an ally and moved someplace else, maybe in a car. 

‘The motive they’ve provided a £20,000 reward is actually because there is a sense that anyone contained in the group would possibly nicely be harbouring this particular person.’

On Sunday, police mentioned the suspect used a ‘very robust concentrated corrosive substance’ within the assault.

Police investigators imagine there are individuals who know Ezedi’s whereabouts and haven’t come ahead.

The Met has warned anybody discovered aiding him will face arrest.

It comes as questions have been raised over how the suspect, who was granted asylum within the UK after two failed makes an attempt, was capable of keep within the nation regardless of being convicted of a intercourse offence.

Police mentioned Ezedi left Newcastle within the early hours of Wednesday and travelled south to London and was within the Tooting space by round 6.30am.

His car was seen once more in Croydon, south London, at round 4.30pm and by round 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the youthful baby to the bottom in the course of the assault at 7.25pm, earlier than trying to drive away from the scene, crashing right into a stationary car and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a Tube prepare at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King’s Cross Tube station.

Police say three members of the general public who got here to assistance from the household throughout Wednesday’s assault, two aged of their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

BBC Radio 4 additionally interviewed a lady who suffered third diploma burns to her foot whereas rescuing the three-year-old woman within the assault.

The lady, who lives close by, rang police and went with the woman to hospital. She took motion after she noticed the little woman being pulled out of the automotive and thrown to the bottom

She mentioned: ‘I feel everybody simply froze as a result of they did not realise what had simply occurred. In the spacxe of a second, he did it once more and that is when everybody tried to seize him, as a result of if nobody grabbed him, he would have completed it a 3rd time.’

Sue Sim, the previous Chief Constable of Northumbria Police – who led the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat, shared her ideas on the hunt to search out Abdul Azedi.

She informed Good Morning Britain: ‘What you do have to recollect is, it is very simple to fade in a metropolis. People stroll with their heads down, folks do not wish to acknowledge different folks.

‘A metropolis is much simpler to fade into than the wilds of Northumberland the place Moat went lacking in 2010.

‘But sure, if anyone is hiding him, hand him in instantly.’

Moat, who had a hatred of police, notoriously gunned down his ex-partner’s new boyfriend Chris Brown earlier than capturing PC David Rathband in Newcastle metropolis centre.

He was caught after seven days hiding in woodland close to Rothbury, Northumberland, when a lady watched him stroll previous her entrance door and phoned police. Moat later shot himself within the head in a showdown with police. 

Ms Sim added: ‘The public are the most effective assist to the police in cases when folks go lacking. Yes, police will likely be utilizing all their investigative and intelligence strategies. But the general public – they’re those who will deliver this man to justice.

‘Please name the police instantly if you understand the place he’s.’

Asked by host Richard Madeley, she mentioned she had ‘little doubt’ Ezedi can be discovered.

Releasing the brand new details about Ezedi’s actions, officers confirmed the 35-year-old, suspected of chucking an alkaline substance over the household on Wednesday night, was final seen exiting Tower Hill Underground station that evening at 9.33pm. 

After fleeing the scene on Lesser Avenue within the south London suburb, Ezedi visited a Tesco Express retailer on Caledonian Road, the place he purchased a bottle of water. He then boarded a southbound Victoria Line prepare from King’s Cross at 9pm. 

The suspect arrived to Victoria Station at 9.10pm earlier than switching tube traces, departing on the eastbound District Line at 9.16pm, earlier than exiting the tube station in east London.

New footage launched by the drive in the present day confirmed Ezedi strolling by means of the Tesco retailer with what seems to be a big burn mark over his proper eye. He seems face-down on the flooring each time he passes a fellow buyer or member of employees. 

The man, wearing a blue t-shirt with a black coat and black denims, clutches onto a big water bottle as he walks out the door of the shop and turns proper in the direction of the station.

The enormous reward for info comes because the nation-wide manhunt for the fugitive enters its fourth day. Officers re-issued requires Ezedi handy himself into the police. 

Providing an replace on the chemical that the 35-year-old is suspected of chucking on the mom and her two little women, age three and eight, police confirmed it an alkaline substance. 

Commander Jon Savell mentioned: ‘The liquid used within the assault was a really robust concentrated corrosive substance, both liquid sodium hydroxide or liquid sodium carbonate.’

The officer added that additional investigations had been going down to check the liquid to the big containers seized from Ezedi’s handle in Newcastle. 

Commander Savell urged anybody with info to contact police, including: ‘I’m vastly grateful to the general public for the numerous variety of calls that we’ve got acquired.

‘Your assistance is essential. A reward of as much as £20,000 is now out there for info resulting in his arrest.

‘I have to warn anybody who helps Ezedi to evade seize – in case you are harbouring or aiding him then you may be arrested.’

In a direct attraction to Ezedi, Darius Nasimi of the charity of Afghanistan & Central Asian Association, mentioned: ‘Abdul, I’m talking on to you. I need you to go straight to a police station instantly.

‘You have a critical harm that must be seen to however, extra importantly, you will need to do the fitting factor and hand your self in to police.

‘This has gone on for lengthy sufficient.’

He mentioned the suspect may contact the charity or go to the police instantly to assist with the enquiries.  

Last evening the National Crime Agency – the UK’s equal of the FBI – had been drafted in to assist the Met discover the 35-year-old who’s suspected of chucking the alkaline substance on the household on Wednesday night.

Officers are investigating issues that an organised crime group could possibly be serving to the fugitive disguise from the authorities.

The 31-year-old mom, who was identified to Ezedi, stays ‘very poorly’ and sedated in hospital together with her accidents considered ‘life altering’. 

Her daughters, aged three and eight, have now been launched from hospital following the assault.

The lady was reportedly dwelling within the lodge in Clapham together with her two little women for a fortnight, thought to have been hiding from Ezedi. 

The seek for Ezedi is being led by the Met’s Specialist Crime Command unit who’re working with the Home Office, UK Border Force, UK Visas and Immigration, the National Crime Agency and British Transport Police.

Local police forces are additionally concerned within the huge hunt for the person.

 It comes as witnesses proceed to relive the terrifying ordeal with a courageous have-a-go hero recalling how her associate lunged on the suspect as he tried to hurt the toddler. 

One couple ran out onto Lesser Avenue within the south London suburb after they heard terrifying screams coming from exterior. 

The pair, who requested to stay nameless, mentioned they noticed a person – considered Ezedi – attacking a ‘weak lady’.

They informed the Sunday Times: ‘We had no concept any substance was concerned; solely that the man was clearly intent on hurting the [three-year-old].

‘He then went to choose the kid up off the highway to do it [throw the child to the ground] once more, which is when my associate lunged in and tackled him, grabbing his leg and falling to the bottom within the course of like a rugby sort out.

 ‘I’ve little doubt that if my associate had not jumped in then the kid would not be with us, and if our different neighbours hadn’t instantly taken the household and washed them down then their accidents would have been far worse.’ 

Both the person and lady have been injured from the assault. He has arm accidents, whereas his associate has ‘burnt each eyeballs’ and should have everlasting harm.

Ezedi was final seen on Wednesday evening at King’s Cross Underground station the place he boarded a southbound Victoria line prepare, with what appeared like extreme burn son his proper eye. 

Over the weekend police mentioned ‘vital and vital items of proof’ had been recovered in raids at two addresses in east London and three in Newcastle.

They embody empty containers with corrosive warnings discovered at one handle in Newcastle, that are proven in new footage launched by detectives.

Forensic assessments to see if the containers held the substance used within the assault are ongoing.

Since launching its attraction, the Met mentioned it has acquired ‘dozens of calls’ in regards to the manhunt, together with potential sightings of Ezedi.

The drive mentioned it’s working ‘around the clock’ with British Transport Police, Northumbria Police, the National Crime Agency and Transport for London on the manhunt.

Commander Jon Savell mentioned: ‘The police investigation to ascertain his subsequent actions and finally find him is continuous at tempo.

‘I need to thank everybody who has contacted police to share what they know.

‘We have acquired dozens of calls with info, together with potential sightings, and each single piece of knowledge has been recorded and varieties a part of our ongoing investigation.

‘I can guarantee the general public that my colleagues and I are totally dedicated to utilizing each out there software and tactic for so long as it takes to search out Abdul Ezedi.

‘I’m in the present day urging the general public to stay vigilant and to contact police instantly if they might have seen Ezedi or have details about him.

‘I might additionally wish to reiterate that for those who see Ezedi, it’s best to name 999 instantly. He shouldn’t be approached.’

Questions stay over how the suspect, who was granted asylum within the UK after two failed makes an attempt, was capable of keep within the nation regardless of being convicted of a intercourse offence.

The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed he was handed a suspended sentence at Newcastle Crown Court on January 9, 2018 after pleading responsible to at least one cost of sexual assault and one in every of publicity. 

He was placed on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

Today a shadow minister has recommended that Ezedi ought to by no means have been granted asylum into the UK. 

When requested by Trevor Phillips on his Sky News programme whether or not there may be ‘one thing mistaken’ with a system that allowed the wished man to remain within the UK, Chris Bryant mentioned ‘sure’.

He added: ‘In the primary, on the face of it, if the whole lot that we’ve got been informed is true, then it appears completely extraordinary that the British folks ought to be put at such threat from this particular person.

‘Of course it is one thing we’d want to take a look at.’

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan mentioned this morning that the alkali assault was ‘probably not about asylum’.

She informed Sky ‘we have to get to the underside’ of why Ezedi was allowed to stay in Britain indicating the problem is being investigated by the Home Office.

Asked the way it was potential the suspect had been granted asylum after being discovered responsible of a sexual offence, Mrs Keegan mentioned: ‘I feel that’s one thing that multiple particular person is asking.

‘My understanding is the Home Secretary has requested for all the small print, however this isn’t actually about asylum,’ she added, earlier than occurring to speak in regards to the victims and others impacted by the assault.

She continued: ‘Clearly, what we are saying is that anyone who commits crimes is just not capable of keep on this nation. So, you probably have a sentence of greater than 12 months, you aren’t allowed to remain you probably have a prison report, and many others.

‘We do not need to have folks on this nation who’ve prison data.’

Prime Minster Rishi Sunak’s spokesman mentioned on Friday that the PM doesn’t suppose ‘overseas criminals ought to have the ability to keep’ within the UK.

It has been reported that the suspect was capable of achieve asylum after claiming he had transformed to Christianity.

The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle mentioned in an announcement it had discovered nothing to counsel he had change into a Catholic however checks had been persevering with.

It mentioned: ‘Our ideas and prayers are at the start with the victims of this appalling assault in south London.’

The diocese confirmed that Ezedi ‘visited our diocesan Justice and Peace Refugee Project, a charitable enterprise which assists a variety of people that come to us in want’.

It added: ‘After checking native parish data and central data and after consulting with clergy we’ve got no indication that Abdul Ezedi was acquired into the Catholic religion on this diocese or {that a} Catholic priest of this diocese gave him a reference.

‘We have no idea which Christian church acquired him nor which Christian minister gave him a reference.’

The mission says on its web site that it offers meals, toiletries and garments to weak folks.

It doesn’t become involved with any asylum claims shoppers could also be pursuing, it’s understood. It is known that Ezedi visited it lately.

The Church of England mentioned it’s at present not conscious of any hyperlinks to its church buildings, with a spokesperson including that it’s ‘the position of the Home Office, and never the church, to vet asylum seekers and choose the deserves of their particular person circumstances’.

The case has echoes of that of Iraqi-born Emad Al Swealmeen, 32, who died from a blast and subsequent hearth after his home made bomb detonated in a taxi exterior Liverpool Women’s Hospital. 

He additionally claimed to be a Christian convert to assist his asylum declare.

At a press convention on Friday, Mr Savell urged the suspect handy himself in. He mentioned: ‘Abdul, you clearly have gotten some very vital accidents. We’ve seen the pictures. You want some medical assist, so do the fitting factor and hand your self in.’

His brother Hassan Ezedi informed The Sun he would hand the suspect in if he knew the place he was.

The wished man left Newcastle within the ‘very, very early hours’ of Wednesday and travelled south to the capital and was within the Tooting space by round 6.30am, police say.

His car was seen once more in Croydon, south London, at round 4.30pm and by round 7pm he was in Streatham.

Ezedi allegedly threw the youthful baby to the bottom in the course of the assault at 7.25pm, earlier than trying to drive away from the scene, crashing right into a stationary car and fleeing on foot.

Minutes later he boarded a tube at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King’s Cross tube station.

At 8.42pm, Ezedi was captured on CCTV in Tesco on the Caledonian Road, pictured with a ‘pretty vital facial harm’ shopping for a bottle of water, earlier than leaving and heading proper.

He bought on a Victoria line Tube at 9pm heading south, the final confirmed sighting.

Police say three members of the general public who got here to assistance from the household throughout Wednesday’s assault, two of their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns.

Five officers who responded to the incident had been additionally handled and have now left hospital.

As nicely because the 11 folks taken to hospital, a person in his 50s, who additionally helped, declined hospital therapy for minor accidents, police mentioned.

Anyone with details about Abdul Ezedi is requested to name 020 7175 2784 or for an instantaneous sighting dial 999. To stay nameless contact Crimestoppers.